When it comes to my Online Colour Consulting, navy blue is definitely the top choice when it comes to painted islands and lower cabinets. However, there are MANY kitchens that can’t visually support ANY type of blue, so make sure it makes sense for YOUR space and its finishes!
The Best Navy Blue Paint Colours for a Kitchen Island or Lower Cabinets)
- Sherwin Williams Cyberspace (COLOUR REVIEW HERE)
- Benjamin Moore Hale Navy (COLOUR REVIEW HERE)
- Benjamin Moore Ocean Floor
Shown above, Sherwin Williams Cyberspace
Shown above, BM Ocean Floor is wicked gorgeous with Cloud White main cabinets
While there are ALWAYS exceptions, in order to paint your island or cabinets blue, your kitchen would ideally have:
- White or wood cabinets
- A countertop that has blue in it or is white/gray
- It’s flexible towards many tiles/linoleum products, it DOES love wood floor too!
The Best Gray Or Charcoal Paint Colours for a Kitchen Island
- Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray (COLOUR REVIEW HERE)
- Sherwin Williams Dovetail (COLOUR REVIEW HERE)
- Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray (COLOUR REVIEW HERE)
- Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray (COLOUR REVIEW HERE)
- Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal
Coming in a hot second to navy blue would be gray. Choosing a neutral is almost ALWAYS a better choice than a colour if you’re worried about resale value, as you’re more likely to appeal to a wider range of buyers. And gray is HANDS-DOWN the most popular neutral choice for a kitchen island/lower cabinets, but that’s not to say it’s the easiest…
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace and Amherst Gray
BTW, because I rely 100% on my Online Paint Colour Consulting photos, I don’t always have a good shot of the colour suggested, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great contender!
Every gray has undertones. It’s important to make sure the undertones in your countertop, flooring and backsplash (if they have gray in them) jibe with the undertones of the gray of your cabinets. Some of the more POPULAR quartz and marble countertops lean towards a soft purple or blue-purple undertone, so you’d want to pick a gray with those same undertones. If you choose the wrong undertones, you’ll have a HOT mess on your hands that can only be fixed by repainting.
Shown above, Sherwin Williams Dovetail
When it comes to painting your island or lower cabinets gray, there is a LOT of room to move, but there are a few limitations…
- If you have warm-toned countertops, there aren’t many gray paint colours that are going to look good
- If you have beige tiled flooring, again, there are few grays that will work
- Gray cabinets look good with MANY of the most popular white paint colours, but NOT always as good with overly warm or creamy ones
The Best Green-Inspired, Teal or Blue-Green Paint Colours for a Kitchen Island
- Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue
- Sherwin Williams Gulfstream
- Sherwin Williams Riverway (mad love)
- Sherwin Williams Peacock Plume
- Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray (FULL REVIEW HERE)
I LOVE TEAL or blue-green kitchen islands…but there sure aren’t many kitchens that can visually support these colours, unless you’re starting things from scratch and can include them from the get-go (and I’m eagerly awaiting some of my client’s after photos to show you how pretty they can be!).
And while a LEGIT GREEN isn’t popular for kitchen cabinets, neutrals with green-inspired undertones sure are!
Let’s look at this cutie-patootie little before and after…
By pulling into the colours in the backsplash tile and the flooring, we were able to give this lovely little home some great personality for a FRACTION of the cost of a new kitchen.
This next kitchen had the standard granite and backsplash tile from the early 2000s and a fresh coat of paint gave the kitchen a whole new lease on life!
Shown above, Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray
While there are ALWAYS exceptions, in order to paint your island or cabinets green or teal, your kitchen would ideally have:
- White or wood main cabinets
- White, black or gray countertops OR butcher block countertops, although there are a few exceptions
- There are also a few granites from the ’90s and early 2000s that can work well (update ideas for that era HERE)
- White subway tile or a tile with green/teal in it that is the same type of green/teal as your island color
In this next example, the yellow stain of the maple cabinets clashed with the orange-red tone of the wood flooring, but after, it’s a whole new kitchen!
The Best Black Paint Colours for a Kitchen Island
- Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10
- Benjamin Moore Jet Black
- Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
- Sherwin Williams Iron Ore
- Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (which is more of a navy-black blend)
Ooooo, I do love a black island and it can be a great way to tie in black appliances if you aren’t ready to shift to white or stainless steel.
Here’s another gorgeous kitchen with painted cabinets and a striking darker island…
While there are ALWAYS exceptions, in order to paint your island or cabinets black, your kitchen would ideally have:
- Black or gray in it
- A butcher block countertop
- White or wood cabinets
- Wood flooring or tile/lino that can easily accommodate a sharp colour like black
And of course, I HAVE to mention Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. Not only is this awesome colour the Colour of the Year for 2021, it’s also the colour on my own kitchen island!
While there are ALWAYS exceptions, in order to paint your island or cabinets black, your kitchen would ideally have:
- Black or gray in it
- A butcher block countertop
- White or wood cabinets
- Wood flooring or tile/lino that can easily accommodate a sharp colour like black
And of course, I HAVE to mention Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. Not only is this awesome colour the Colour of the Year for 2021, it’s also the color on my own kitchen island!
Courtesy of Kylie M. Interiors
